Perforated record sorting machine



June 14, 1938.

L. H. FRONEFIELD PERFORATED RECORD SORTING MACHINE Filed June 13, V1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 'June 14, 1938. H. FRQNEHELD 2,120,355

P'ERFORATED RECORD SORTING MACHINE v Filed June 1s, 1934 v 2 snets-sheet 2 Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PERFORATED RECORD SORTING MACHINE V Louis H. Fronefield,

to International tion, New York, York Application June 13,

- 9 Claims.

This invention relates to perforated record sorting machines and more particularly to machines of this nature which are adapted to analyze a plurality of columns of perforations representing a plurality of numerals or other characters, during a single operation.

It is common in sorting machines of the present character, to run a stack of cards through the machine once for each digit in a number, in order to remove from the stack all of those cards containing a particular number. Or, if the cards are to be sorted into numerical or other order, a single column on the card is analyzed during each run through the machine and the cards are separated into several pockets in accordance with the digit represented by the per= foration in the column being analyzed.

Statistical and other data cards are often numbered to represent a particular group to which they belong and if these cards are in a common stack containing cards of several groups, it is frequently necessary to remove from the stack, cards belonging to a particular group and to then sort the cards of this group into numerical or other order. If the group number contains three digits, it is necessary to run the cards through the machine three times to to the particular group and to then run these cards through the machine again to effect the proper arrangement of the cards of that group.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will sort all of the cards of a, particular group during a single run of the machine.

Another object is to sort out of a stack of cards, all those of the particular group as indicated by perforations in several columns, and at the same time, distribute them into the several .pockets of the machine in accordance with data. 40 perforations containedin another column.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have shown what I now consider to be the preferred form of my invention:

Fig. 1 isa front elevation, partly in section, of a sorting machine;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of certain parts of the sorting control elements;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram.

In the drawings, the sorting machine is shown as having several sorting pockets l, into which the cards 2 are.sorted. It is common in these machines to provide thirteen of these pockets as shown in United States Patent 1,880,428. These pockets correspond to the ten numerals 0-9, with two extra pockets known as the 11 and the 12 collect those belonging y Binghamton, N. Y., assignor Business Machines Corpora- N. Y., a corporation of New 1934, serial No. 730,403 (oi. 209-110) pockets, and one reject pocket to receive all cards not belonging to any of the twelve numbered pockets.- The cards 2 are placed in a hopper 3 and arefed by a card picker l, one at a time to feed rollers 5. The picker is connected to an arm 4a pivoted at 4b in a cushioned support 4c. A cam 4d fixed on a constantly running shaft 4e moves the parts to the left which is the card feeding stroke, while the springs 4f restore them to the right. The drive for the shaft 4e as well as for the feed rollers is omitted here as it is well known. The cardsthus pass between sorting brushes 6 and an -electric contact in the form of a. conducting roller l.

In the present machine, there are shown -iive sensing brushes 6 adapted to cooperate with ve separate columns on the card. 'I'he brushes are mounted on a carriage 8 slidably mounted on a threaded rod 9 and are capable of being moved along this rod so as to cooperate with any desired columns on the card. Several of the brushes may be iixedly mounted with respect\to each other, so as to sense 'a group of adjacent columns on any part of a card, while one of the brushes Sa, may be mounted separately from the others so that it may be set to analyze any other column.

As the card passes between ythe brushes and the contact roller, each brush cooperates with a single column on the card and is held outof contact with the .roller 'l by the card, until a perforation in one of the index positions in the column reaches the sensing position. At such time,

the brush reaches through the perforation and makes contact with the roller 'l to close an electric circuit through an electromagnet to control the operation of the machine in accordance with the particular index positionl in the column at which the perforation is located. After the card has been analyzed, itfmoves on as indicated in Fig. 2, carried by the additional feed rollers 5 and enters between the ends of chute blades I0 and is carried to one of the severalA pockets in accordance with the particular position between the blades that it occupies.

At the beginning of a. sorting cycle in accordance with the aforesaid patent, all of the chute blades Ill are in raisedposition and as the rst index point i. e., the 9 at the bottom-of the card as shown in Fig. 2, passes under thesensing brush or brushes, one of the sorting blades is adapted to drop. s the next index position passes under the brush, a second chute blade drops and so 1 on until allof the index positions in the column have passed under the sensing brush. If a perforation appears at one of these index positions, then a sorting circuit will be closed and will lock the chute blades in the particular position which they occupy at that time in the cycle, so that no additional blades will drop and when the card arrives at the end of the blades, it will pass above all the blades which had dropped and below those which are held up. The path thus created for the card leads to the pocket corresponding to the position of the perforation in the column analyzed.

In accordance with the present invention, instead o! dropping the blades successively as the index points pass the sensing brushes, certain control elements are unlatched but the blades continue to be held in their raised position ,until the end of the card sensing operation. Then, if the card belongs to the particular group desired, the blades are allowed to drop and the card passes into the path thus created and is carried to the sorting pocket. But, i! the card does not belong to the desired group then the blades are all held in their upper position and the card passes beneath them and is carried into the first pocket which is the reject pocket.

The ends of the blades are normally held in raised position by individual supporting arms II which are pivoted at .|2. Each arm II is held in its upper position by an individual latching member I3 pivoted at I4 and is provided with a spring I5 tending to pull it downwardly when released. All of the latches I3 are held in latchlng position by a common bail I6. Also, all of the arms II are held up by a common restoring bail I1 latched by the armature I3 and electromagnet I9. Corresponding to each of the latches I3 is a cam 20, all of which are iixed on a common axis or shaft 2| driven synchronously with the feeding mechanism so as to synchronize with the passage of the successive index positions in the columns under the sensing brushes 6. The cams 20, at a common point in the cycle of the machine, all restore their respective latches I3 to latching position and then proceed to release the latches successively as the successive index positions on the cards pass the brushes.

As each latch I3 is released by its cam, it will rock counterclockwise under the action of its spring 22, the ball IB being in inoperative position as in Fig. 1. When a latch I3 releases its arm I I, the latter continues to be held up -by the common bail I1. 'I'he latches I3 are controlled by brush 6a. When a perforation passes under this brush, an electromagnet 23 will be energized, attracting its armature 24 to release the projection 25 of the bail I3 and permitting the spring 29 to raise the bail from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2. The latches I3 that have been released by their cams 29 up to this point in the cycle will then be in the position designated I 3a in Fig. 2, while those that have not yet been released are latched in position as in Fig. 2 and cannot, during the remainder of the cycle, release their arms II. If, after the analyzing operation, magnet I9 is energized, the bail I1 will be released and will rock downwardly about its pivot 21, permitting all of the unlatched arms II to drop with their blades I9-, while the arms II which are still latched will hold their blades in raised position. This will determined the path between the blades for the entrance of the card.

Referring to Fig. 3, the brush 6a is connected to a brush 28 which cooperates with a conductor ring 29 on a commutator member 30. Sev- Agroup number.

eral individual contact segments 3l, also carried by the member 30, are all connected electrically to the ring 29 and make contact successively with a brush 32. The segments 3| correspond to the index positions in the column on the card. As each index position is passing under the brush 6a a corresponding one of the segments 3| is passing under the brush 32. If a perforation appears at one of the index positions, the brush 6a will reach through and make contact with the roller 1 and close a circuit through the magnet 23 as follows: from the positive side of the line 33, to the common brush 3l, roller 1, brush 6a, brush 28, ring 29, a particular segment 3I, brush 32, electromagnet 23, back to the other side of the line 35.

The energization of the magnet 23 at a time in the cycle, depending upon location of the perforation, thus serves to lock the latches I3, some in holding and some in releasing position with respect to their arms II.

At the same time that the brush 9a is analyzing its particular column on the card, one or more of the other brushes 6b etc., are also analyzing other columns on the card. These other co1- umns may contain perforations representing a And where all the cards of a particular number are wanted, a setting will be eiected by which only those particular cards will control the operation of the electromagnet I9. Assuming that the group control number contains three digits, then three of the sensing brushes designated 6b, 6c, and 9d will be employed while the brush 6e will not be used in controlling the sorting. Each of these additional sensing brushes is connected to a brush 36h, 39c, etc., cooperating with a ring 31h, 31.0, etc., on a commutator member 33h, 33c,^etc. Associated with each of the rings 31h, 31.0, etc., is a row of contact segments 39, each segment corresponding to one of the index point positions in the columns sensed by the respective brushes 6b, 6c, etc. The rows of segments 39 cooperate with brushes 40h, etc., whereby the segments pass the latter successively and synchronously with the sensing of the index point positions in the card by brushes 6b, 6c, etc. Any segment 39 in each row may be made current conducting with respect to the associated rings 31h, 31o, etc., by; some simple means as a movable arm 4I. By turning each arm 4I to bring it into contact with any one of the segments 39, that particular segment will be electrically connected through the brush 36 to the brush 6b, etc., at the time in the' cycle when the desired index point in the particular column cooperates with the brush 6b.

Assuming that the group control number in the present instance is 214, then the arm A4I will be moved into cooperation with the segment 39 on the commutator member 33h associated with the brush 3b, i. e., the brush of the tens order. The brush 6c of the hundreds order will in like manner be connected through the particular segment 39 corresponding to the I index position on the card by moving the arm Il to the appropriate position. In like manner, the brush 9d of the thousands order is connected through the particular segment 39 corresponding to the index position 2 of its column on the card by a setting of its commutator arm Il. The brush 6e of the tens of thousands order is to remain inactive and its corresponding arm 4I will be set in normal or inoperativeposition and this particular brush will be c ut out of operation by the closing of a switch 42e. Corresponding w aiaoss e switches 42o, 42e, 42d are set in open position as indicated. A brush 40h is connected to an electromagnet 43h which is adapted to operate two armatures 44D and 45h. The commutators 30 and 38D, 38c,.etc., may all be carried on the common shaft 2| so as to operate synchronously with the rest of the analyzing elements of the machine. Assuming now that the card which is passing under the analyzing brushes has a perforation at the index position 4 in the column with which brush 6b is. cooperating, the perforation will reach the brush 6b at the same time that the segment 39 on which the arm 4I is set reaches brush 40h. This will cause a circuit through electromagnet l43h as follows: from the line 33, through brush 34, roller 1, brush 6b, brush A 43d to close contacts 41d and 48d. Contacts 48e- 36h, arm 4|, segment 39 on which the arm 4I is set, brush 40h, electromagnet 43h, through contacts 46 which are closed during the analyzing portion of the cycle, to the other side of the line 35.

Magnet 43h, upon attracting its armatures 44h, 45h, closes contacts 41h, 48h, so that as the perforation passes from under the brush 6b and breaks the circuit through magnet 43h, the armatures will continue to be held i'n their set position to maintain the contacts 41h and 48h closed, through electromagnet49b. The circuit through magnet 49h is from the line 33, wire 50, magnet 49h, contacts .411), through armature 4812i contacts 46 to the line 35. This then holds the contacts 48h closed. If there is a perforation at the index position 1 in the hundreds column which brush 6c is analyzing, a circuit will be set up through electromagnet 43e in the same manner in which magnet 43h was energized, and will close contacts 41e and 48e. Similarly, if a perforation appears in the 2 index position in the column associated with brush 6d then a similar circuit will be established through electromagnet will not be affected as the brush 6e is not controlling.

Thus, if the group number 214 appears in the card which is being analyzed, a circuit will be closed through the magnet I9 from the line 33,

through switch 42e, contacts 48d, 48C, 48h all` of which were closed as we have seen, through magnet I9'\to the other side of the line 35. This magnet as shown in Fig. 2 releases the bail I1 so that those arms II which have been released by their latches I3 can drop with their chute blades I0 while the arms which are still held by latches I3 remain in the upper position.

Thus, a card of the group number 214 will pass into the path between blades Il) created by the brush 6a which is analyzing the units or other column, and the card will be conducted into one of the several pockets depending upon which index position in such column is perforated. If the card does not contain the group number 214, then one or more of the contacts 48h, 48e, 68d will not be closed and no circuit will be closed through magnet I9 so that the latter will not release the bail I1 and none of the chute blades IIl will be lowered and the card will pass into 'the reject pocket R.

After the card has entered the path created between the ends of the chute blades, the cam 5| which has held the contacts closed, permits them to open. This breaks the circuit through the magnets 4919, 49e etc., and the associated contacts 41h, 4817, 41C, 48o, etc., will open, and these parts will be in restored position ready for the next sorting cycle. Cam 5| may be carried by shaft 2|. At this same restoring portion of the cyclev the chute blades and associated parts are also restored. The bail I1 has a cam follower arm |1a which is actuated by a cam |1b on shaft 2| to raise all of the arms and the chute blades |0.` Following the restoration of arms II, the raised portion 20a of cams 20 will restore all of the latches I3 to position, latching the arms I The portions 20a on all of the cams 20 are in alignment and act at the same time. But just before this takes place, the bail I6 is restored by a follower arm Ilia, actuated by a cam IIb on shaft 2|.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single embodiment it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

I1. In a sorting machine, a series of sorting pockets, a series of sorting blades each leading to a pocket for guiding records into said pockets, means for analyzing successively presented record cards, means to operate the blades, means to initially select the blades for operation, means controlled by the analyzing `means for controlling the selecting means in accordance with designations in the records, and means controlled by the analyzing means for causing the blade operating means to operate in accordance with the selection made by the selecting means only on the occurrence of predetermined designations in the records.

2. In a sorting machine, a serie's of sorting pockets, a series of record guiding elements each leading to onelof said pockets, means controlled by designations in successively presented records for preliminarily selecting the guide elements for operation, and means controlled only by predetermined'designations in said records for causing the blades to operate in accordancewith the preliminary selection made by the selecting means.

3. In a perforated card controlled sorting machine, a plurality of guide blades forcontrolling the distribution of cards, means for holding said blades in normal position, a latch for each of said holding means, a plurality of cams for controlling said latches to successively release said holding means, means controlled by a perforation in a column on a card for further controlling said latches, a common latch normally latchlng all of said holding' means, and additional means controlled by perforations in a plurality of other columns on a card for controlling said common atch.

4. In a sorting machine, record sensing means, a series of sorting pockets, a series of sorting blades extending from the pockets to a common sorting station, means at the sorting station and controlled by the sensing means for preselecting the blades for operation under control of a designation in a record at the sorting station, and means controlled by the analyzing means for causing the sorting blades to operate in accordance with the pre-selection only on the occurrence of predetermined'designations. in the records.

5. In a sorting machine, record analyzing means, a series oi' sorting pockets, a series of sorting blades leading from a common sorting station to the respective pockets, means at the sorting station for selectively operating the blades including blade pre-selecting means and means controlled by the analyzing means for causing the pre-selecting means to operate in accordance with designations in the records, and means at the sorting station controlled by the analyzing means for causing the blades to be operated by the operating means under control of the pre-selecting means only on the occurrence of pre-determined 'designations in the records.

6. In a sorting machine, record analyzing means, a series of sorting pockets, 4a series of sorting blades leading from a sorting station to the respective pockets, means at said station to pre-select the blades for operation including a single magnet controlled by the analyzing means for controlling the pre-selecting means in ac cordance with the value of any one of a plurality of diierent designations in a record, and means at said station for operating the blades under control of the pre-selecting means including a second magnet controlled by the analyzing means in accordance with only predetermined designations in the records.

7. In a sorting machine, a seriesl of sorting blades, a series of latches each for holding one of said blades in a normal position, means common to all said blades for preventing them from armste responding to release of the latches, means for successively releasing the latches, means controlled by designations in successively presented records for selectively interrupting release of the latches, and means controlled only by predetermined designations for operating the common means to permit operation of the unlatched blades.

8. In a sorting machine, a series of sorting blades, means to pre-select the blades for subsequent operation, a record analyzing device, means controlled by part of the analyzing de-l vice for causing the pre-selecting means to operate in accordance with a data designation in a -record analyzed, means to prevent operation of 

